By James
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Fresh concerns over school security in Nigeria have emerged, following the abduction of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack occurred on Monday morning when suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists stormed the school on motorcycles while candidates were sitting for their examination.
Witnesses said the assailants fired sporadically, causing panic before abducting an unspecified number of students and some women trading within the school premises.
Tragically, one teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said the terrorists invaded the Lassa community at about 9 a.m., adding that security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation.
“Today at about 9 a.m., suspected members of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists invaded the Lassa community on motorcycles. An unspecified number of students are currently missing, but police, military personnel, hunters and vigilantes are combing the area,” Daso stated.
In a positive development, security operatives comprising the Nigerian Army, Police, and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force have rescued seven of the abducted victims.
A government official confirmed the rescue, saying efforts were continuing to secure the release of the remaining captives, adding that assessment of the situation was still ongoing.
The latest attack has once again highlighted the persistent threat, facing schools in parts of northern Nigeria, particularly in Borno State, where educational institutions have repeatedly been targeted by insurgents.
The incident inevitably evokes memories of the infamous Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in April 2014, when more than 270 students were kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, also in Borno State. The attack drew global condemnation and sparked the worldwide #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
The growing spread of school-related attacks beyond the traditional insurgency hotspots of the North has become a deeply troubling development.
In Oyo State, gunmen recently invaded schools in the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting dozens of students and teachers in an incident that sent shockwaves across the country. Even more disturbing were reports that one of the abducted teachers was later beheaded by the captors, while several others remained in captivity for an extended period, underscoring the brutality of the attackers and the vulnerability of educational institutions.
The incident demonstrated that the menace of kidnapping and attacks on schools is no longer confined to conflict-ridden northern states but is increasingly encroaching into the South, raising urgent concerns about national security and the need for stronger measures to protect students, teachers, and learning environments across Nigeria.
Over the years, Nigeria has witnessed several mass kidnappings of students, including the abduction of schoolchildren in Kankara, Jangebe, Tegina, and other communities, underscoring the vulnerability of schools to terrorist and criminal attacks.
The attack on students sitting for a crucial national examination is likely to reignite calls for stronger security measures around schools and examination centres, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
As security forces intensify efforts to locate the remaining abductees, families, education stakeholders, and concerned Nigerians continue to await positive news on the safe return of all those still in captivity.
